1999 Nissan PATHFINDER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
98 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
130,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1999 model year. Data snapshot: . 54 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Suspension:Front is the most frequently named component, appearing in 18 of 98 complaints (18.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 18 | 18.4% |
| Braking behavior | 10 | 10.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 6 | 6.1% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 2.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 2.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 2.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Suspension:Front | 18 |
| Steering | 15 |
| Suspension | 13 |
| Structure:Frame And Members | 8 |
| Air Bags | 7 |
| Structure:Body | 7 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 6 |
| Tires | 6 |
Suspension:Front: 18; Steering: 15; Suspension: 13; Structure:Frame And Members: 8; Air Bags: 7; Structure:Body: 7; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 6; Tires: 6
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 7 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 21 |
| 150,000 and above | 18 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 7; 100,000 to 149,999: 21; 150,000 and above: 18
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (21). 44 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 7 |
| 2001 | 8 |
| 2002 | 9 |
| 2003 | 5 |
| 2004 | 4 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 9 |
| 2009 | 7 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 22 |
| 2012 | 5 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 4 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 2 |
2000: 7; 2001: 8; 2002: 9; 2003: 5; 2004: 4; 2005: 1; 2006: 2; 2007: 1; 2008: 9; 2009: 7; 2010: 3; 2011: 22; 2012: 5; 2013: 1; 2014: 2; 2015: 4; 2016: 1; 2017: 1; 2018: 2; 2019: 2; 2020: 2
Pattern summary
Suspension:Front leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 18 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 10 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 6 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10244278 · 2008-10-03 (October 3, 2008)
I'M REPULSED @ THE GROSS DISREGARD FOR SAFETY & LIFE OF CONSUMERS MY 99 NISSAN --DEATH TRAP HEY IM ALIVE 3 CRASHES MAJOR STEERING LOCK UP SELF ACCELERATION PROBLEMS ELECTRICAL STALLING SHIMMY SEATBELTS DON'T LOCK AIR BAGS DO NOT DEPLOY THIS VEHICLE IS DANGEROUS BRAKES LOCK UP CHRONIC CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ISSUES DESPITE NUMEROUS INQUIRIES & COMPLAINTS TO NISSAN THEY DENIED ANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS WITH ANY OF THEIR VEHICLES I HAVE NOW FOUND MULTIPLE FOREIGN CAMPAIGN RECALLS WHICH NISSAN NORTH AMERICA WAS NOTIFIED BY MANUFACTURERS OF COMPONEN…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10244278 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10268676 · 2009-05-13 (May 13, 2009)
1999 NISSAN PATHFINDER HAD FRONT STRUTS REPLACED LAST SUMMER. OVER THE WINTER I STARTED TO GET A BUMPING FEELING IN THE STEERING. IT WAS REALLY BAD WHEN I HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD. I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS THAT BAD UNTIL I HIT LARGE BUMP AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO TURN. I WENT OFF THE ROAD AND WHEN I HIT ANOTHER BUMP IT TURNED. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE TRUCK HOME. I RETURN TO HAVE THE FRONT STRUTS AND STEERING CHECKED THE MECHANIC SHOWED ME HOW THE UNIBODY SEPARATED AND IS PUSHING AGAINST THE STEERING SHAFT. HE EXPLAINED THERE WAS NO…
Owner-reported narrative. 156,250 miles reported. Look up ODI 10268676 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10049005 · 2003-12-01 (December 1, 2003)
I RECENTLY PURCHASE A 1999-1/2 NISSAN PATHFINDER SE LIMITED. SOON AFTER WE HAD 3 TO 4 EXPERIENCES WHERE THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN WHILE COMING TO A STOP. EVEN APPLY THE BRAKES CANT STOP THE CAR FROM WANTING TO RACE OFF, I HAVE TO QUICKLY TURN THE INGNITION OFF WITH THE KEY. IVE HAD 2 NISSAN DEALER SERVICES AND THE TOYOTA DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM TEST AND DRIVE OVER 50-60 MILES AND NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.MY WIFE AND I FEEL THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT CAN CAUSE INJURY OR EVEN DEATH TO US OR SOMEONE IF …
Owner-reported narrative. 42,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10049005 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10010571 · 2003-03-17 (March 17, 2003)
MY "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT CAME ON AFTER I FILLED IT UP WITH GAS. WAS TOLD IT WAS AN OXYGEN SENSOR PROBLEM AND THEN THE CODE WAS CLEARED. LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AND IT CAN'T BE SEEN AT DEALER FOR ANOTHER WEEK. A FEW MONTHS AGO I HAD TO GET THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED AND THE REAR AND FRONT SHOCKS REPLACED AND THE CAR IS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD. THE COMPANY SAYS THAT THAT HAPPENS SOMETIMES. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 49,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010571 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10057100 · 2004-02-12 (February 12, 2004)
TRANSMISSION FAILURE NISSAN PATHFINDER
Owner-reported narrative. 55,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10057100 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10118644 · 2005-04-28 (April 28, 2005)
WHILE STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN SIGN OR RED LIGHT THE CAR STARTS SHAKING AND STALLS. THIS HAPPENED ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASSIONS. MY MECHANIC FOUND THAT I NEEDED A WHOLE NEW DISTRIBUTOR. THEY FOUND SHATTERED PIECES OF METAL INSIDE AND HAVE TOLD ME THEY HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE. THE INTERRMITTENT STALLING IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE THE CAR WILL LOSE POWER WHETHER OR NOT YOU ARE STOPPED. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS MAJOR PROBLEM. I HAVE THE DEFECTIVE PART FOR INSPECTION IF NECESSARY
Owner-reported narrative. 64,498 miles reported. Look up ODI 10118644 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 722821 · 2000-05-17 (May 17, 2000)
ELECTRICAL ARCING BENEATH HOOD AT RF FENDER, ALONG WIRING HARNESS FROM ABS ACTUATOR TO FUSE BLOCK. WIRING INSULATION ETC IGNITED WHILE VEHICLE PARKED CAUSING LOCALISED DAMAGE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 722821 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10293048 · 2009-11-20 (November 20, 2009)
1999.5 NISSAN PATHFINDER. BODY OF CAR IS ROTTING AWAY. PRIORITY IS NOTED AT THE ATTACHMENT OF THE BODY TO THE STRUT. THE BODY TORE AWAY DUE TO RUST CAUSING A 270 DEGREE TEAR AROUND THE STRUT. THIS CAUSED THE BODY TO DROP 4' AND I WOULDN'T HAVE KNOWN IF I DIDN'T NOTICE A RUBBING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL (I WAS HITTING THE CONTROL ARM WITH MY TIRE)... ONLY THING I CAN THINK OF THAT LED TO FAILURE WOULD BE THAT THE SHOCKS WENT OUT 6 MONTHS PRIOR TO IT GOING AND THEY WERE REPLACED. RUBBING NOISE NOTED 1.5 MONTHS AGO... OTHER FRONT WHEEL WELL IN…
Owner-reported narrative. 146,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10293048 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10376361 · 2011-01-12 (January 12, 2011)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FILLER TANK FOR THE FUEL TANK LEAKED FUEL WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS BEING FUEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE MANUFACTURER AS THE VIN DID NOT APPEAR IN THE DATABASE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE AS THE VIN COULD NOT BE FOUND. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 120,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10376361 at NHTSA ↗